Today’s nurses are more career-oriented and tech-savvy than ever before. With the rise of telemedicine, online continuing education courses, and other new technologies, many nurses today can balance work and personal life more easily than their predecessors. However, most nurses begin their careers working alternate shifts (i.e., nights or weekends) which can make maintaining a social life and spending time with family difficult. Compounding this issue is the fact that most hospitals and clinics have strict policies about things like personal appearance, uniforms, and length of hair or nails, leaving little room for variation in personal style. That’s why it’s crucial to set boundaries to have a life outside of work as well as a career as a nurse. Here are 3 tips for managing your work-life balance as a nurse.
1. Communicate with your manager
While you may think you’re doing a good job of balancing your work and personal life, your manager may see things differently. You may be expected to work a certain number of hours per week or month or have an assigned caseload. If this is the case, be sure to communicate any difficulties you’re having meeting these expectations with your manager. They can help you improve the balance of your workload with your personal life and rest. They may also be able to help you work out any issues with your workload that are causing you undue stress.
2. Set boundaries with patients and families
As a nurse, you’ll often encounter patients and their families who want more of your time than is strictly necessary. When this happens, try to put boundaries in place. If you work on a specific unit or with a specific type of patient, let your patients and their families know when you’ll be available for questions so they don’t feel ignored. Likewise, you should also let your patients know when it’s time to respect your time away from the hospital. Set boundaries with your family as well. You may be the primary caregiver for your children or have a parent living with you. Let them know when you have to attend to other obligations (for instance, read the delta 9 THC in-depth guide) and that you’ll try to get back to them when you can.
3. Delegate tasks to other nurses
As you progress through your nursing career, you may find that you’re responsible for completing tasks that take up much of your time. If this is the case, consider delegating some of these tasks to other nurses. If your job requires you to stay on the floor and attend to patients, consider delegating tasks like charting, ordering supplies, or performing certain laboratory tests to other nurses. If you manage other nurses, be sure to delegate appropriately.
Conclusion
Work-life balance is a constant struggle for many nurses. That being said, there are ways to manage your time better and take control of your schedule. Consider the tips discussed above and implement those strategies that will help you manage your time and take control of your work-life balance. If you’re having difficulties managing your work-life balance, keep trying! You’ll get there.
